National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) is set to commence the implementation of its space regulation and licensing mandate following the approval of a N20 billion take-off fund by President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking in an interview, Dr. Matthew Adepoju, director-general, NASRDA, emphasised that the agency’s regulatory functions, as outlined in the NASRDA Act (2010), have remained unfulfilled since its establishment in 1999.
To address this, Adepoju submitted a memorandum to President Tinubu advocating for enforcement of space regulation, leading to the recent approval of funds.
Adepoju highlighted the urgency of regulating Nigeria’s space sector to prevent misuse, particularly regarding security-sensitive activities.
The regulatory framework will oversee:
Satellite image providers
Geographic information system operators
Satellite-based telecommunications and broadcasting services
He warned that unregulated geographical data intelligence could be exploited by non-state actors, underscoring the importance of strict oversight.
NASRDA has set up a licensing platform open to public and private sector operators in the space industry.
The regulation will cover Nigeria’s three space segments:
Upstream – Deep space activities
Midstream – Satellites and orbital objects
Downstream – Ground stations and space service users
Although the agency has yet to access the N20 billion fund, Adepoju confirmed that regulatory and licensing functions have commenced.
